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Utility/equip trailer floor

Started by DanL, October 31, 2024, 08:32:56 AM

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DanL

Good day folks. I performed a search. However, due to my choice of search words or phrases, I did not come up with much.
I am about to replace wood flooring on a utility trailer and an equipment trailer. From personal experience and from what I have read here, I understand that White Oak (Q.Alba) is good for the floors.

I have a good deal of post oak (Quercus stellata) and sand post oak (Quercus margarettae) that is easily acquired and close to my mill. What say you about utilizing post oak for trailer floors?

Thanks, DanL
Woodland mills HM126, Stationary
From God's Farm in Alabama
"God bless America" and "Alba gu brath"

doc henderson

white oak is rot resistant, but may be hard, and crack.  Some here like cottonwood as the fibers crush under metal dozer tracks and swell back up with moisture.  cover with oil such as linseed or used motor oil for down and dirty equipment trailers.
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

doc henderson





Old Uncle Jerry.





18-foot 2 x 10s for dozer trailer.  CW.
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

DanL

Thanks @doc henderson.

We do not have much cottonwood here and there is none on my property. A couple of local heavy equipment guys prefer white oak (Quercus alba) on their trailer floors for the durability. It seems that other woods available to them require more frequent replacement (i.e. downtime).

I am thinking that Post oak (Q. stellata), is typically only available through local mills. It is even tougher than White oak (Q. alba) and more rot resistant. My grandfather installed post oak heartwood fence posts in 1911 and several are still standing in that fence.

I was hoping someone here might have experience utilizing post oak for trailer floors and could share their experience.

I can get white oak and a couple of other good trailer floor species from my property but am considering the post oak as an alterative.

Thanks again, Dan
From God's Farm in Alabama
"God bless America" and "Alba gu brath"

SawyerTed

White oak would be my go to wood for trailer decking or bridge decking.   But it is abundant here and of sufficient size to make lots of 1.5x8 or 2x8 and wider decking.   
Woodmizer LT50, WM BMS 250, WM BMT 250, Kubota MX5100, IH McCormick Farmall 140, Husqvarna 372XP, Husqvarna 455 Rancher

doc henderson

I think the white oak is great.  the softer wood may last longer for very heavy steel tracked equipment as it gives rather than crack and split.  Utility trailer for sure, and what type and weight of equipment will be on the bigger trailers?
Timber king 2000, 277c track loader, PJ 32 foot gooseneck, 1976 F700 state dump truck, JD 850 tractor.  2007 Chevy 3500HD dually, home built log splitter 18 horse 28 gpm with 5 inch cylinder and 32 inch split range with conveyor powered by a 12 volt tarp motor

DanL

These are my trailers and will only be carrying rubber tired zero turn and 60-70 HP tractor type machines with their 3-point and/or front-end equipment.
From God's Farm in Alabama
"God bless America" and "Alba gu brath"

beenthere

Post oak will work fine in place of Q.alba. Only difference might be the grade of the boards that you would get from white oak logs compared to grade from post oak logs. But the grade of the boards put on your trailer will be a decision you can make when selecting them. 
Do you plan to saw the post oak logs yourself? 
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

Ron Scott

Post Oak should work fine. As Beenthere stated, select the best grade boards.
~Ron

scsmith42

If you want a good preservative, soak your trailer decking in either used hydraulic fluid or used automatic transmission fluid.  It's a great preservative.
Peterson 10" WPF with 65' of track
Smith - Gallagher dedicated slabber
Tom's 3638D Baker band mill
and a mix of log handling heavy equipment.

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